Cliff Swallows

Imbued with the modernist faith in progress, I long believed that “we” were becoming ever more respectful of the world around us, and that the bad old days were truly old. But enlightenment is not a forever thing, and more and more I think that we are slipping back, back, back: terns hosed off their nests in California, cormorants shot in Maine, raptors tortured by pigeon enthusiasts in Oregon…. And now 186 Cliff Swallows killed by “an angry boat owner” in Oklahoma. Wonder what the chances are of the culprit’s paying the $93,000 fine?